Gesher (Staff-in-Training) and Taste of Camp, Rookie Day Director

Responsibilities Start Date: April 2025
Arrival: Tuesday, June 10, 2025
End and Westtown Departure Date: Monday, August 5, 2025
Supervised by: Senior Assistant Director
Minimum Qualifications: Hiring subject to applicable URJ and Pennsylvania State background checks..

Seeking a college graduate or the equivalent, with training and experience in secondary education and/or significant prior experience working with and fondness for high school age children in a formal or informal Jewish educational setting. Able to actively look after ones’ own physical and mental health, and advocate for their own needs. Deep knowledge of staff supervision and training experience is preferred. Must have a history of successful leadership development and curriculum writing, be able to demonstrate flexibility, manage multiple responsibilities at once and work as part of a team. Excellent driving record. Love and/or respect for The Arts and a diverse community is a must. 21 years of age by June 1, 2025.

What you can expect from us:

• Room and board, Competitive Pay in summer camp market, Travel stipend, where applicable

• One day off per session (12-day period), one hour off per day, one additional morning, afternoon, or evening off per summer

• Average work day begins at roughly 7:30am and concludes when your campers are asleep (varies by age group), unless you are sitting on the rotating evening watch or during opening/ closing nights (up to half your evenings off per session)

• Additional 24 hrs off during an intersession

• Snacks, SWAG, and lots of fun

• The opportunity to positively impact children’s lives and your own

• Deep gratitude and appreciation

Responsibilities

JEWISH

• Incorporate Jewish values and traditions in to Gesher curriculum

• Actively participate and demonstrate respect for ritual moments in conjunction with URJ practices, including Israel (your personal beliefs are also respected)

• Incorporate core values and summer theme in meaningful and appropriate ways

• Inspire Taste of Campers’ and Rookie Day Campers’ love of Judaism and encourage connection to the community

ARTS

• Support campers in their skills training and artistic growth

• Partner with Artistic Director and Arts Mentors to design Taste of Camp daily schedule and Rookie Day schedule

• Cheer at showcase

CAMP

• Develop and implement a staff-in-training curriculum designed to teach participants skills necessary to succeed as a summer camp staff member and post-high school. In partnership with Camp Directors, create and execute leadership training, including exposure to ResLife, Programming, and Logistics teams’ responsibilities, and Gesher Time, a structured curriculum of training on various aspects of camp and life skills

• Have meaningful day-to-day interaction with each participant and facilitate meaningful interactions between them.

• Support smooth transitions between Gesher cohorts by session.

• Responsible for communicating information and setting expectations for the group. This person must see that every participant is engaging socially in a manner that is appropriate to them, becomes acclimated to life at camp, grows towards their potential and is a healthy, appropriate part of the total camp community.

• Supervise the Gesher counselor(s), who will support the programmatic and MESSH needs for Gesher participants.

• Create and role model positive culture for units. This could include cheers, dress-up days, and general campiness.

• Share participant successes and challenges with parents/guardians, Community Care Team and Assistant Director, referring participants to those partners when necessary

• Work with the Gesher counselor to complete nightly unit logs designed to document mental, physical, emotional, and overall status of campers, submit them to the Resident Advisor before leaving the dorm floor each night

• Circulate in the camp community during daily programming

• Assist in expectation setting and provide regular evaluations and feedback to Gesher participants, both formally and informally

• Effectively set and communicate expectations of the Gesher participants for the camp community

• Support taste of camp campers and staff throughout their time at CAA

• Organize policies and protocols for dorm floor operations in partnership with bunk counselors

• Offer input to Year-Round Team on co-counselor assignments

• Actively participate and encourage others in camp activities

Programming

• In partnership with Assistant Director, write and facilitate age-appropriate evening programs for unit engagement.

• Collaborate with other Unit Heads on all-camp evening programs, theme days, camper health, counselor feedback and support

• Coordinate meaningful staff engagement opportunities that promote community bonding and wellness

• Lead staff week opportunities as directed

• Actively participate and encourage others in camp activities

Leadership Team Responsibilities

• Abide by and enforce safety and security protocols and policies with all participants and staff.

• Attend Virtual Spring Leadership Orientation as scheduled

• Attend daily Leadership Team meetings

• Attend routine meetings with Camp Director and Assistant Director as scheduled

• Contribute to the overall positive morale of the camp community.

• Serve as Senior Shmira (nightly on-duty leadership coverage) as assigned

• Maintain strict confidentiality.

• Communicate with families as directed

• Other responsibilities as needed